HC Deb 25 July 1911 vol 28 cc1521-2
Mr. KING

I desire to call attention to the OFFICIAL REPORT of yesterday's proceedings, and to point out that the report of the Prime Minister's speech is unsatisfactory, inasmuch as it was incompletely delivered and unsatisfactorily heard in the Press Gallery. In spite of this an adequate report appears in all the newspapers of today, and I ask whether you would direct that the authorised report which appears in "The Times" and other newspapers might not be entered upon the OFFICIAL REPORT, in order that hon. Members in the future might have a convenient way of referring to such an important speech.

Mr. F. E. SMITH

Before you answer that question Mr. Speaker—[HON, MEMBERS: "Sit down."]

Mr. SPEAKER

I have considered the point which the hon. Member has raised, and I think it would be a very dangerous precedent if hon. Members were permitted to hand their speeches to the Official Reporters, and expect them to appear in full whether they were heard or not. I know that practice does obtain in some legislatures, but never in this. I think it would be a very dangerous precedent.

Mr. KING

Members who are inadequately heard are frequently asked from the Press Gallery to furnish notes of their speeches, and consequently, although hon. Members may not appear to the House to have delivered flowing and full orations still they appear in the Report next day to have made speeches of that kind. In view of that well known fact, Mr. Speaker, do you not feel justified in stretching a point on this occasion?

Mr. SPEAKER

I do not think those observations apply to the OFFICIAL REPORT. I cannot speak on behalf of the reporters in the Press Gallery generally. I am only concerned with the OFFICIAL REPORT, and I am sure the observations of the hon. Member do not apply to that Report.

Mr. KING

With all due respect to you, Mr. Speaker, I think you are under a misapprehension. [HON. MEMBERS: "NO."] The Official Reporters do ask for our notes very frequently.

Mr. SPEAKER

The Official Reporters may, in some cases, desire to have the assistance of the notes used by an hon. Member who has been speaking; but, if the hon. Member means the reproduction of a speech which has not been delivered, I am sure that has never been done in the OFFICIAL REPORT.